Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate, a crack-blocking layer and a crack-blocking portion. The semiconductor substrate may include a plurality of chip regions and a scribe lane region configured to surround each of the plurality of the chip regions. A trench may be defined by one or more inner surfaces of the semiconductor device to be formed in the scribe lane region. The crack-blocking layer may be on an inner surface of the trench. The crack-blocking layer may be configured to block a spreading of a crack, which is generated in the scribe lane region during a cutting of the semiconductor substrate along the scribe lane region, from spreading into any of the chip regions. The crack-blocking portion may at least partially fill the trench and may be configured to block the spreading of the crack from the scribe lane region into any of the chip regions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0019700, filed on Feb. 15, 2021 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Example embodiments relate to semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same. More particularly, some example embodiments relate to semiconductor devices including chip regions in which a plurality of semiconductor chips may be arranged and a scribe lane region configured to define the chip regions into each other, and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a plurality of semiconductor chips formed on a semiconductor substrate may be partitioned by a scribe lane region. The semiconductor substrate may be cut along the scribe lane region to singulate (e.g., separate) the semiconductor chips into independent semiconductor chips.

According to related arts, a crack generated in the scribe lane region during the cutting process may spread into the semiconductor chips. The crack may cause an error of the semiconductor chip.

SUMMARY

Some example embodiments provide a semiconductor device that may be capable of suppressing a crack generated in cutting a semiconductor substrate from spreading into a semiconductor chip.

Some example embodiments provide a method of manufacturing the above-mentioned semiconductor device.

According to some example embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate, a dam structure, a dielectric layer, an insulating interlayer, a conductive pattern and a photosensitive insulation layer. The semiconductor substrate may include a plurality of chip regions and a scribe lane region configured to surround each of the plurality of the chip regions. The dam structure may be in the scribe lane region of the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer may be on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. The insulating interlayer may be on an upper surface of the dielectric layer. The conductive pattern may be on an upper surface of the insulating interlayer. The photosensitive insulation layer may be on an upper surface of the conductive pattern. One or more inner surfaces of the semiconductor device may define a trench extending through the insulating interlayer and the dielectric layer in the scribe lane region to expose the dam structure. The semiconductor device may further include a crack-blocking layer, which may be connected to the dam structure, on a bottom surface and at least a portion of an inner side surface of the trench. The crack-blocking layer may be configured to block a spreading of a crack, which is generated in the scribe lane region during a cutting of the semiconductor substrate along the scribe lane region, from spreading into any of the chip regions. The photosensitive insulation layer may include a crack-blocking portion at least partially filling the trench, the crack-blocking portion configured to block the spreading of the crack from the scribe lane region into any of the chip regions.

According to some example embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate, a crack-blocking layer and a crack-blocking portion. The semiconductor substrate may include a plurality of chip regions and a scribe lane region configured to surround each of the plurality of the chip regions. One or more inner surfaces of the semiconductor device may define a trench in the scribe lane region. The crack-blocking layer may be formed on an inner surface of the trench. The crack-blocking layer may be configured to block a spreading of a crack, which is generated in the scribe lane region during a cutting of the semiconductor substrate along the scribe lane region, from spreading into any of the chip regions. The crack-blocking portion may at least partially fill the trench, the crack-blocking portion configured to block the spreading of the crack from the scribe lane region into any of the chip regions.

According to some example embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include. In the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate may include a plurality of chip regions and a scribe lane region configured to surround each of the plurality of the chip regions. A dam structure may be formed in the scribe lane region of the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer may be formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. An insulating interlayer may be arranged on an upper surface of the dielectric layer. A trench may be formed to extend through the insulating interlayer and the dielectric layer in the scribe lane region to expose the dam structure. A conductive pattern may be formed on an upper surface of the insulating interlayer. A crack-blocking layer may be formed on an inner surface of the trench. A photosensitive insulation layer may be formed on an upper surface of the conductive pattern to fill the trench.

According to some example embodiments, the trench may be formed through the insulating interlayer and the dielectric layer in the scribe lane region to expose the dam structure through the trench. The crack-blocking layer may be formed on the inner surface of the trench and the crack-blocking portion may be formed in the trench to block the spread of the crack, which may be generated in cutting the semiconductor substrate along the scribe lane region, by the crack-blocking layer and the crack-blocking portion. Thus, the spread of the crack into the semiconductor chip in the chip region may be suppressed to reduce or prevent an error of the semiconductor chip caused by the crack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1 to 9 represent non-limiting, example embodiments as described herein.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views illustrating a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device in FIG. 1 in accordance with some example embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will further be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it may be above or beneath or adjacent (e.g., horizontally adjacent) to the other element.

It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like), which may be referred to as being “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “linear,” or the like with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) may be “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “linear,” or the like or may be “substantially perpendicular,” “substantially parallel,” “substantially linear,” respectively, with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof.

Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially perpendicular” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “perpendicular” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “perpendicular,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ±10%).

Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially parallel” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “parallel” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “parallel,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ±10%).

It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof may be recited herein as being “the same” or “equal” as other elements, and it will be further understood that elements and/or properties thereof recited herein as being “identical” to, “the same” as, or “equal” to other elements may be “identical” to, “the same” as, or “equal” to or “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as or “substantially equal” to the other elements and/or properties thereof. Elements and/or properties thereof that are “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as or “substantially equal” to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to include elements and/or properties thereof that are identical to, the same as, or equal to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances. Elements and/or properties thereof that are identical or substantially identical to and/or the same or substantially the same as other elements and/or properties thereof may be structurally the same or substantially the same, functionally the same or substantially the same, and/or compositionally the same or substantially the same.

It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof described herein as being “substantially” the same and/or identical encompasses elements and/or properties thereof that have a relative difference in magnitude that is equal to or less than 10%. Further, regardless of whether elements and/or properties thereof are modified as “substantially,” it will be understood that these elements and/or properties thereof should be construed as including a manufacturing or operational tolerance (e.g., ±10%) around the stated elements and/or properties thereof.

When the terms “about” or “substantially” are used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value. When ranges are specified, the range includes all values therebetween such as increments of 0.1%.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views illustrating a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor device 100 of some example embodiments may include a semiconductor substrate 110, a dielectric layer 150, an insulating interlayer 170, a conductive pattern 180, a crack-blocking layer 182, a photosensitive insulation layer 190 and a crack-blocking portion 192.

The semiconductor substrate 110 may include a plurality of chip regions CR and a scribe lane region SR. Circuits 120 of a semiconductor chip may be arranged in the chip regions CR. The chip regions CR may be partitioned by the scribe lane region SR. Thus, the scribe lane region SR may be configured to individually surround each of the chip regions CR.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the chip regions CR may have a rectangular shape. Further, the chip regions CR may be spaced apart from each other in a lengthwise direction and a breadthwise direction by a uniform gap. Thus, the scribe lane region SR configured to partition the semiconductor substrate 110 into the chip regions CR may have a cross shape. That is, the scribe lane region SR may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape configured to individually surround each of the chip regions CR. In some example embodiments, the scribe lane region SR may have a width of about 60 μm, not limited thereto.

Therefore, the chip regions CR may have adjacent corners. During the semiconductor substrate 110 may be cut along the scribe lane region SR, a crack generated in the scribe lane region SR may spread into the chip region CR through the corner of the chip region CR. The crack may damage the circuits 120 of the semiconductor chip in the chip region CR.

The circuits 120 of the semiconductor chip may be arranged in the chip region CR of the semiconductor substrate 110 (e.g., in the chip region CR of the semiconductor substrate 110, and may be understood to be in the semiconductor substrate 110). The circuit 120 may include elements having various functions for operating the semiconductor chip.

A guard ring 130 may be arranged in the scribe lane region SR of the semiconductor substrate 110 (e.g., in the scribe lane region SR of the semiconductor substrate 110, and may be understood to be in the semiconductor substrate 110). The guard ring 130 may surround the circuit 120 to protect the circuit 120. Thus, the guard ring 130 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

A dam structure 140 may be arranged in the scribe lane region SR of the semiconductor substrate 110 (e.g., in the scribe lane region SR of the semiconductor substrate 110, and may be understood to be in the semiconductor substrate 110). Particularly, the dam structure 140 may be positioned outside the guard ring 130. Thus, the dam structure 140 may be configured to surround the guard ring 130. The dam structure 140 may block a spread of the crack, which may be generated in the scribe lane region SR, into the chip region CR.

The dielectric layer 150 may be arranged on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) an upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110. The dielectric layer 150 may be formed on the chip region CR and the scribe lane region SR. The dielectric layer 150 may include a material having a low-k. For example, the dielectric layer 150 may include a hafnium oxide layer, a hafnium silicon oxide layer, a hafnium aluminum oxide layer, a lanthanum oxide layer, a lanthanum aluminum oxide layer, a zirconium oxide layer, a zirconium silicon oxide layer, a tantalum oxide layer, a titanium oxide layer, a barium strontium titanium oxide layer, a barium titanium oxide layer, a strontium titanium oxide layer, an yttrium oxide layer, an aluminum oxide layer, a combination thereof, etc., not limited thereto.

The insulating interlayer 170 may be arranged on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) an upper surface 150 s of the dielectric layer 150. Particularly, the insulating interlayer 170 may be positioned in the chip region CR and the scribe lane region SR. The insulating interlayer 170 may include an oxide layer, not limited thereto.

A tetra ethyl ortho silicate (TEOS) layer 160 may be interposed between the insulating interlayer 170 and the dielectric layer 150. In some example embodiments, the semiconductor device 100 may not include the TEOS layer 160.

The conductive pattern 180 may be arranged on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) an upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170. Particularly, the conductive pattern 180 may be positioned in the chip region CR and the scribe lane region SR. The conductive pattern 180 may include a metal such as aluminum, not limited thereto.

The photosensitive insulation layer 190 may be formed on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) the upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170 to cover the conductive pattern 180. As shown, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may be formed on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) the upper surface 180 s of the conductive pattern 180. The photosensitive insulation layer 190 may have openings configured to expose the conductive pattern 180. Particularly, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may be positioned in the scribe lane region SR as well as the chip region CR. The photosensitive insulation layer 190 may include polyimide, not limited thereto.

In order to reduce or prevent the spreading of the crack into the chip region CR, the semiconductor device 100 of some example embodiments may include a trench 172. The trench 172 may be understood to be positioned in (and/or at least partially on) the scribe lane region SR. Particularly, the trench 172 may be formed at a portion of the scribe lane region SR adjacent to the chip region CR.

The trench 172 may be understood to be at least partially defined by one or more inner surfaces of the semiconductor device 100, including one or more inner surfaces of one or more of the semiconductor substrate 110, dielectric layer 150, TEOS layer 160, insulating interlayer 170, and/or conductive pattern 180 (e.g., inner surfaces of the semiconductor substrate 110, dielectric layer 150, insulating interlayer 170, and/or conductive pattern 180) that collectively define the inner side surfaces 172 i and bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172.

In some example embodiments, the trench 172 may be formed through (e.g., may extend through) the insulating interlayer 170 and the dielectric layer 150 in the scribe lane region SR to expose the dam structure 140. In some example embodiments, the trench 172 may be formed through the insulating interlayer 170, the TEOS layer 160 and the dielectric layer 150 in the scribe lane region SR to expose the dam structure 140. Particularly, the trench 172 may be partially formed at the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110. Thus, the dam structure 140 may be exposed through the trench 172. The trench 172 may be formed based on etching the insulating interlayer 170, the TEOS layer 160, the dielectric layer 150 and the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110 before forming the conductive pattern 180. The dam structure 140 may be partially removed by the etching process. The trench 172 formed based on the etching process may have a deep depth. The trench 172 may have gradually (e.g., continuously, without discontinuous changes in width) decreased widths from an upper end 172-1 to a lower end 172-2 of the trench 172 and thus gradually increased widths from the lower end 172-2 to the upper end 172-1. That is, the trench 172 may have an upper width 172 w 1 and a lower width 172 w 2 narrower than the upper width (said widths being in a direction parallel to the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110). In some example embodiments, the trench 172 may have a uniform width. Further, the trench 172 may have an upper width 172 w 1 and a lower width 172 w 2 wider than the upper width 172 w 1. That is, because the trench 172 may function as to expose the dam structure 140, the shape of the trench 172 may not be restricted within a specific shape.

In some example embodiments, when the width of the scribe lane region SR may be about 60 μm, the upper width of the trench 172 may be about 2.5 μm to about 3.5 μm. Because the trench 172 may be located in each of the chip regions CR, the two trenches 172 may be formed in the scribe lane region SR between the two adjacent chip regions CR. As a result, the upper width 172 w 1 of the trench 172 may be about 2.5/30 times to about 3.5/30 times the width SRw1 of the scribe lane region SR, not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, the trench 172 may be configured to surround each of the adjacent corners of one or more of the chip regions CR (e.g., a given trench 172 may surround one or more corners of one or more chip regions CR in the direction parallel to the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110, where adjacent corners of multiple, adjacent chip regions CR may be partially or wholly surrounded by a common trench 172 or separate, respective trenches 172 such that the adjacent corners of adjacent chip regions CR may be isolated from each other in the aforementioned direction by one or more trenches 172).

In some example embodiments, referring to FIG. 3, a trench 174 may be configured to wholly surround each of the chip regions CR (e.g., a given trench 174 may wholly surround a given chip region CR in the direction parallel to the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110, where multiple chip regions CR may be wholly surrounded by a common trench 174 or separate, respective trenches 174 such that adjacent chip regions CR may be isolated from each other in the aforementioned direction by one or more trenches 174).

The crack-blocking layer 182 may be arranged on an inner surface of the trench 172. The crack-blocking layer 182 may block the spreading of the crack generated in the scribe lane region SR during the cutting process into the chip region CR (e.g., any of the chip regions CR). Particularly, because the dam structure 140 may be exposed through a bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172, the crack-blocking layer 182 may be firmly connected to the dam structure 140. Thus, the crack-blocking layer 182 connected to the dam structure 140 may block the spreading of the crack into the chip region CR (e.g., into any of the chip regions).

In some example embodiments, the crack-blocking layer 182 may be formed on the bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172. Further, the crack-blocking layer 182 may be partially formed on an inner side surface 172 i (e.g., opposing inner side surfaces 172 i) of the trench 172. For example, as shown in at least FIG. 1, the crack-blocking layer 182 may be on (e.g., directly on) the bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172 and adjacent lower portions 172 i-1 of the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172, such that the crack-blocking layer 182 may extend continuously between covering opposing lower portions 172 i-1 of opposing inner surfaces 172 i and covering the bottom surface 172 l. As shown, upper portions 172 i-2 of the inner side surface 172 i may be exposed from the crack-blocking layer 182, but example embodiments are not limited thereto and in some example embodiments the crack-blocking layer 182 may cover the entire inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172. The crack-blocking layer 182 on the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172 may be upwardly extended from the bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172. The crack-blocking layer 182 on the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172 may have an upper end 182u separated from (e.g., isolated from direct contact with) the conductive pattern 180. That is, the upper end 182u of the crack-blocking layer 182 may not be formed on (e.g., may expose) an upper portion 172 i-2 of the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172. Thus, the upper portion 172 i-2 of the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172 may be exposed by the crack-blocking layer 182.

Further, the crack-blocking layer 182 may be a part of the conductive pattern 180. That is, the crack-blocking layer 182 may be formed together with the conductive pattern 180 by a same process. Thus, the crack-blocking layer 182 may include a material substantially the same as that of the conductive pattern 180. In some example embodiments, the crack-blocking layer 182 may be formed based on a process different from the process for forming the conductive pattern 180.

The conductive pattern 180 and the crack-blocking layer 182 may be expanded by heat. When the crack-blocking layer 182 may be connected to the conductive pattern 180, a space into which the crack-blocking layer 182 may be expanded may not exist. In this case, the expansion of the crack-blocking layer 182 may be applied to the insulation interlayer 170, the TEOS layer 160 and/or the dielectric layer 150 to generate a separation between the insulating interlayer 170 and the TEOS layer 160 and/or between the TEOS layer 160 and the dielectric layer 150.

In order to reduce or prevent the separation, the upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 may be separated from the conductive pattern 180 so that the crack-blocking layer 182 may be upwardly expanded. Thus, the expansion of the crack-blocking layer 182 may not be applied to the insulating interlayer 170, the TEOS layer 160 and/or the dielectric layer 150 to reduce or prevent the generation of the separation between the insulating interlayer 170 and the TEOS layer 160 and/or between the TEOS layer 160 and the dielectric layer 150.

As mentioned above, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may be formed in the scribe lane region SR as well as the chip region CR. Thus, when the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may be formed in the scribe lane region SR, the trench 172 may be filled with the photosensitive insulation layer 190. Therefore, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may cover the crack-blocking layer 182. As a result, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may include the crack-blocking portion 192 (e.g., a crack-blocking portion 192 of the photosensitive insulation layer) formed in the trench 172 (e.g., extending into the trench in a direction toward the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110). The crack-blocking portion 192 may partially or completely fill the trench 172 (e.g., some or all portions of the trench 172 not occupied by the crack-blocking layer 182). The crack-blocking portion 192 may block the spreading of the crack generated in the scribe lane region SR into the chip region CR (e.g., into any of the chip regions CR) together with the crack-blocking layer 182.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device in FIG. 1 in accordance with some example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4, a dam structure may be formed in a scribe lane region SR of a semiconductor substrate 110, where the scribe lane region SR is configured to individually surround each of a plurality of chip regions CR of the semiconductor substrate 110.

Still referring to FIG. 4, a dielectric layer 150 may be formed on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) an upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110.

Still referring to FIG. 4, an insulating interlayer 170 may be formed on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) an upper surface 150 s of the dielectric layer 150.

Still referring to FIG. 4, a TEOS layer 160 may be formed on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) an upper surface 150 s of the dielectric layer 150, and the insulating interlayer 170 may be formed on (e.g., directly or indirectly on) the TEOS layer 160.

Referring to FIG. 4, the scribe lane region SR may be etched to form the trench 172 such that the trench is formed to extend through at least the insulating interlayer 170 and the dielectric layer 150 in the scribe lane region SR to expose the dam structure 140. Particularly, the insulating interlayer 170, the TEOS layer 160, the dielectric layer 150 and the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110 may be etched to form the trench 172 vertically penetrating the insulating interlayer 170, the TEOS layer 160 and the dielectric layer 150. The dam structure 140 may be exposed through the trench 172 by the etching process. Further, the dam structure 140 may be partially removed by the etching process. The trench 172 may be formed in the scribe lane region SR to surround adjacent corners of one or more of the chip regions CR and/or to individually surround one or more of the chip regions CR.

Referring to FIG. 5, a conductive layer 184 may be formed on the upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170. The conductive layer 184 may at least partially fill the trench 172. That is, the conductive layer 184 may have an upper surface lower than the upper end of the trench 172 as shown in FIG. 5 for example. Thus, a portion of the conductive layer 184 in the trench 172 may not be connected to a portion of the conductive layer 184 on the upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170. As a result, the upper portion of the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172 may be exposed, not covered by the conductive layer 184.

Referring to FIG. 6, the conductive layer 184 may then be etched to form the conductive pattern 180 on the upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170. The portion of the conductive layer 184 in the trench 172 may also be removed by the etching process to form the crack-blocking layer 182 on the bottom surface 172 l and the lower portion 172 i-1 of the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172, thereby forming the crack-blocking layer 182 in the trench 172. Because the upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 may correspond to the upper surface of the conductive layer 184 in the trench 172, the upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 may be separated from the conductive pattern 180. That is, the upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 may not be connected to the conductive pattern 180 on the upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170, thereby exposing an upper portion 172 i-2 of the inner side surface 172 i of the trench 172.

As shown in FIG. 7, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may be formed on the upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170 to cover the conductive pattern 180 with the photosensitive insulation layer 190. Particularly, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may also be formed on the upper surface 170 s of the insulating interlayer 170 in the scribe lane region SR to at least partially fill the trench 172 with the photosensitive insulation layer 190. Thus, the photosensitive insulation layer 190 may be understood to be formed at least partially in the trench 172. Therefore, the crack-blocking portion 192 may fully fill the trench 172 to complete the semiconductor device 100 in FIG. 1 with the crack-blocking layer 182 covered by the crack-blocking portion 192.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments.

A semiconductor device 100 a of some example embodiments may include elements substantially the same as those of the semiconductor device 100 in FIG. 1 except for a trench. Thus, the same reference numerals may refer to the same elements and any further illustrations with respect to the same elements may be omitted herein for brevity.

Referring to FIG. 7, a trench 172 a of some example embodiments may be formed through the insulating interlayer 170, the TEOS layer 160 and the dielectric layer 150. In contrast, the trench 172 a may not be formed at the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110. Thus, the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110 may be exposed through a bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172 a.

Therefore, a crack-blocking layer 182 a may be connected to the upper surface 110 s of the semiconductor substrate 110 exposed through the bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172 a. An upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 a may be located at a position substantially the same as the position where the upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 in FIG. 1 may be located.

A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device 100 a may include processes substantially the same as those illustrated with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 except for a depth of the trench 172 a. Thus, any further illustrations with respect to the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device 100 a may be omitted herein for brevity.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments.

A semiconductor device 100 b of some example embodiments may include elements substantially the same as those of the semiconductor device 100 in FIG. 1 except for a trench. Thus, the same reference numerals may refer to the same elements and any further illustrations with respect to the same elements may be omitted herein for brevity.

Referring to FIG. 8, a trench 172 b of some example embodiments may be formed through the insulating interlayer 170 and the TEOS layer 160. In contrast, the trench 172 b may not be formed at the dielectric layer 150. Thus, the upper surface 150 s of the dielectric layer 150 may be exposed through a bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172 b.

Therefore, a crack-blocking layer 182 b may be connected to the upper surface 150 s of the dielectric layer 150 exposed through the bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172 b. An upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 b may be located at a position substantially the same as the position where the upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 in FIG. 1 may be located.

A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device 100 b may include processes substantially the same as those illustrated with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 except for a depth of the trench 172 b. Thus, any further illustrations with respect to the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device 100 a may be omitted herein for brevity.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with some example embodiments.

A semiconductor device 100 c of some example embodiments may include elements substantially the same as those of the semiconductor device 100 in FIG. 1 except for a trench. Thus, the same reference numerals may refer to the same elements and any further illustrations with respect to the same elements may be omitted herein for brevity.

Referring to FIG. 9, a trench 172 c of some example embodiments may be formed through the insulating interlayer 170. In contrast, the trench 172 a may not be formed at the TEOS layer 160 and the dielectric layer 150. Thus, the upper surface of the TEOS layer 160 may be exposed through a bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172 c.

Therefore, a crack-blocking layer 182 c may be connected to the upper surface of the TEOS layer 160 exposed through the bottom surface 172 l of the trench 172 c. An upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 c may be located at a position substantially the same as the position where the upper end of the crack-blocking layer 182 in FIG. 1 may be located.

A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device 100 c may include processes substantially the same as those illustrated with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 except for a depth of the trench 172 c. Thus, any further illustrations with respect to the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device 100 a may be omitted herein for brevity.

According to some example embodiments, the trench may be formed through the insulating interlayer and the dielectric layer in the scribe lane region to expose the dam structure through the trench. The crack-blocking layer may be formed on the inner surface of the trench and the crack-blocking portion may be formed in the trench to block the spread of the crack, which may be generated in cutting the semiconductor substrate along the scribe lane region, by the crack-blocking layer and the crack-blocking portion. Thus, the spread of the crack into the semiconductor chip in the chip region (e.g., any of the chip regions) may be suppressed to reduce or prevent an error of the semiconductor chip caused by the crack.

The foregoing is illustrative of some example embodiments and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although some example embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present inventive concepts. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventive concepts as defined in the claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and is not to be construed as limited to the specific example embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed example embodiments, as well as some example embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of chip regions and a scribe lane region configured to individually surround each of the chip regions; a dam structure at the semiconductor substrate in the scribe lane region; a dielectric layer on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; an insulating interlayer on an upper surface of the dielectric layer; a conductive pattern on an upper surface of the insulating interlayer; and a photosensitive insulation layer on an upper surface of the conductive pattern, wherein one or more inner surfaces of the semiconductor device define a trench extending through the insulating interlayer and the dielectric layer in the scribe lane region to expose the dam structure, wherein the semiconductor device further includes a crack-blocking layer connected to the dam structure on a bottom surface and at least a portion of an inner side surface of the trench, the crack-blocking layer configured to block a spreading of a crack, which is generated in the scribe lane region during a cutting of the semiconductor substrate along the scribe lane region, from spreading into any of the chip regions, wherein the photosensitive insulation layer includes a crack-blocking portion at least partially filling the trench, the crack-blocking portion configured to block the spreading of the crack from the scribe lane region into any of the chip regions.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the trench is configured to surround adjacent corners of one or more of the chip regions.
 3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the trench is configured to wholly surround one or more of the chip regions.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the trench has an upper width of an upper end and a lower width of a lower end, the lower width being narrower than the upper width.
 5. The semiconductor device of claim 4, wherein the trench has gradually increased widths from the lower end to the upper end.
 6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the trench has a width of about 2.5/30 times to about 3.5/30 times a width of the scribe lane region.
 7. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the crack-blocking layer comprises an upper end isolated from direct contact with the conductive pattern such that the crack-blocking layer exposes an upper portion of the inner side surface of the trench.
 8. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of chip regions and a scribe lane region configured to individually surround each of the chip regions; wherein one or more inner surfaces of the semiconductor device define a trench in the scribe lane region; wherein the semiconductor device further includes a crack-blocking layer in the trench, the crack-blocking layer configured to block a spreading of a crack, which is generated in the scribe lane region during a cutting of the semiconductor substrate along the scribe lane region, from spreading into the chip regions, and wherein the semiconductor device further includes a crack-blocking portion at least partially filling the trench, the crack-blocking portion configured to block the spreading of the crack from the scribe lane region into any of the chip regions.
 9. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the trench is configured to surround adjacent corners of one or more the chip regions.
 10. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the trench is configured to wholly surround one or more of the chip regions.
 11. The semiconductor device of claim 8, further comprising: a dam structure at the semiconductor substrate in the scribe lane region; a dielectric layer on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; an insulating interlayer on an upper surface of the dielectric layer; a conductive pattern on an upper surface of the insulating interlayer; and a photosensitive insulation layer on an upper surface of the conductive pattern.
 12. The semiconductor device of claim 11, wherein the trench extends through the insulating interlayer and the dielectric layer to expose the dam structure.
 13. The semiconductor device of claim 12, wherein the crack-blocking layer is on a bottom surface and at least a portion of an inner side surface of the trench, and the crack-blocking layer is connected to the dam structure.
 14. The semiconductor device of claim 13, wherein the crack-blocking layer comprises an upper end isolated from direct contact with the conductive pattern such that the crack-blocking layer exposes an upper portion of the inner side surface of the trench.
 15. The semiconductor device of claim 11, wherein the photosensitive insulation layer is on the upper surface of the conductive pattern in the scribe lane region and the crack-blocking portion is a part of the photosensitive insulation layer.
 16. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising: forming a dam structure in a scribe lane region of a semiconductor substrate, the scribe lane region configured to individually surround each of a plurality of chip regions of the semiconductor substrate; forming a dielectric layer on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating interlayer on an upper surface of the dielectric layer; forming a trench extending through the insulating interlayer and the dielectric layer in the scribe lane region to expose the dam structure; forming a conductive pattern on an upper surface of the insulating interlayer; forming a crack-blocking layer in the trench; and forming a photosensitive insulation layer on an upper surface of the conductive pattern and in the trench.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the trench comprises forming the trench in the scribe lane region to surround adjacent corners of one or more of the chip regions.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the trench comprises forming the trench in the scribe lane region to individually surround one or more of the chip regions.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the conductive pattern and the crack-blocking layer comprises: forming a conductive layer on the upper surface of the insulating interlayer to at least partially fill the trench with the conductive layer; and etching the conductive layer in the trench to form the crack-blocking layer.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein filling the trench with the conductive layer comprises forming the conductive layer on a bottom surface and a lower portion of an inner side surface of the trench to expose an upper portion of the inner side surface of the trench. 